I've been studying in preparation for leading Sunday evening Bible class during April. The text will be Colossians.
I've been looking closely at the openings of Paul's letters. It seems that Paul accepts the life of the "church" itself to be the best evidence of the validity of the gospel message.
"Too often appeals to the objective truth of the gospel have served as a means for the church to evade its responsibility to live faithfully before the world. In short, Christians insisted that the gospel was objectively true regardless of how we lived. The paradigm I am advocating frankly admits that all truth claims require for their widespread acceptance the testimony of trusted and thereby authorized witnesses.... What our world is waiting for, and what the church seems reluctant to offer, is not more incessant talk about objective truth, but an embodied witness that clearly demonstrates why anyone should care about any of this in the first place." [Philip D. Kenneson quoted in "Colossians Remixed" by Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat]
That's a powerful statement!
The idea is that the best "evidence" for the validity of Christianity is not a powerful argument that draws on objective facts and indisputable logical exercises of reasoning. Rather, the best evidence is the community of faith, not a faithful individual, but a community that is an "embodied witness" (expression from Walsh & Keesmaat). The fullest beauty of the Kingdom of God is not revealed in the life of a single individual but in the communal life of the church.
This way of thinking cuts against the grain of our culture, with its intense focus on the individual over against communal concerns. It is also extremely convicting.
"When you put it that way, I can begin to see your point. Of the friends of mine who have abandoned Christian faith, very few of them stopped believing in Christ because of intellectual problems with the Bible or because they were seduced by some other worldview or belief system. Rather, they tend to abandon Christian faith because of the irrelevance, judgementalism, internal dissension and lack of compassion they experience within the Christian community. Rather than finding the church to be the community that most deeply encouraged them in their struggles, they lost heart in their discouragement and lost their faith in the process. Rather than experiencing the church as the site of the most profound hospitality, love and acceptance, they felt excluded because of their doubts and struggles." [from a hypothetical conversation in Walsh & Keesmaat]
We have got to somehow break free from thinking and living as individuals, is it not clear that this really isn't working so well? Instead, we must re-awaken and apply our imagination to discover what God will do in a community of faith. This will be slow starting because this aspect of our imagination has atrophied with lack of use.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Atrophy of imagination
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3 comments:
Great post Jason...I totally agree, thanks for taking the time to share it.
Yes, great post!
Traditionally, one of the CofC's most-loved verses tends to be I Corinthians 14:40 "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." I wonder what would happen if when we met next Sunday, there was no agenda? Could things be orderly without an agenda? Would we be able to wing it? Some folks couldn't handle it. And initially it would be awkward for sure. It's like we need a "lesson plan." Unfortunately, real-life doesn't always operate that way.
It seems to me that Church fits our definition and needs. By nature of how we live, "church" means a place and a set of events within a specific time frame - after which, it's business as usual. It seems like going to church is the springboard for "being good," and living a good life. Our ticket to heaven. There's such a common misconception about being good being related to becoming a Christian or going to church that most people who are in a prime position to hear the Gospel believe they must clean up beforehand. Most of us have contributed to this situation in some way. The Gospel is for the sick, the twisted, the wounded, the dirty, the perverse, the outcast, the poor, and all who would recognize their condition. When did it become our responsibilty to rehabilitate people so they would be acceptable to us before/after they became Christians?
I wonder why we can't imagine a people who hold unswervingly to the un-get-around-able truths of Scripture while at the same time being the most compassionate, accepting, and loving people we have ever seen. It's what we're called to...and that's un-get-around-able.
This has struck a nerve with me, because at times, I've struggled with the relevance question. I've wondered what difference 3 services per week made. It does make a difference - in my priorities, and the scriptural truth is applicable to daily life. However, our set-up does little to promote a connectedness with each other. And there's not much sharing. It's a formalized and somewhat sterile environment. The early Church had all things in common. Their togetherness was frequent and daily. There lives were interdependent, and by modern definition would probably appear cultish. Groups that operate with a true "we" mentality scare the socks of modern culture. But even those groups with false motives do not go unnoticed.
I am very glad for what appears to be presented in the class Jason. I see Eric's comments and have talked to others for a number of years now and it seems good that more are beginning to recognize there are problems.
There is in my mind a major problem with the organization called "church" and as it relates to our life-style. It is not one problem really, but many small ones.
I saw a marquee at a building saying "looking for a better life? We can help!" but how will they or we help? What do we do that is any different then the rest of the world? Show them the way to salvation then throw them right back into the world where we live also.
The present way we are living is, incorrect, wrong even. There are so many points to look at that all fairly shout the same message that it can't be denied, can it?
This class you have going, forgive me but do you have a plan and direction or is it a passing fancy of discussion?
You have mentioned the advertising world and the drive behind it. It was stated by another that man's primary role was switched to that of the bread-winner in the 1800's at the start of the industrial age. Come work at our factory, on our rail-ways and send money home. Be a good provider for your family. The family unit was pulled on then and really began to come apart by 1920's.
I feel we should be rather living somewhat like the Amish. Again I point out that they have lived a different life-style that the rest of us and do fine in many ways. It is not perfect, it is not a pattern to follow, it is an example that it can be done. When you begin this type of thoughts though, many I have talked to revert back to some barbaric form of survival. caves and dirt floors and skins to wear, so on. They do so to say that that is not the type of life they want to go "back to". I happen to agree. It shows that they have not or are not willing to think very far on it.
There are so many things to look at, so many that could be improved: "religion", education, family time, health, stress, bills, debt ........ it is a large list.
There has to be a place to start, a plan and here is the catch I think, Matt 18:3 in part - unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
We are being too complex in our thinking. The plan of salvation is absolutely so simple that anyone can follow it. It has to be. God made us all responsible for our own selves. We cannot rely on anyone or blame anyone for not doing as he commanded. In those commands is second to love each other as ourselves and that we must be bound together to strengthen each other.
Look what we eat. Most is not fit for human consumption. Look at milk, meat eggs etc - wonder what I mean? ask me.
We can also cook in a microwave this same junk to eat or get at a fast food place in a few minutes what would have taken hours before and hardly have time to eat it.
We can drive several places that would have taken days or weeks to get to before to each location.
Where is the time we saved?
Look at education. Wow what a racket! I never knew how twisted the system was till I became a teacher. A system that packs you into the present age in ways you can't imagine.
Debt? Why are we so dumb to be in debt? So many things, most we do not need.
Insurance? You have to have insurance. More like protection money like the mob would demand. You have to abide by the laws of land. That means basic car insurance, house insurance while it is mortgaged and such. Do you need the rest? Should you have the rest? ( you do to survive, here is the scary part , in this world - ok, change the word world to society if that helps but means the same thing )
Medical? Are you not simply made part of the doctor's retirement plan?
How did Abraham, Noah, Paul or any other person in the past survive without all the things we have?
What does being a good provider mean? Is that even Biblical? Is it a provider of good? Are we providing good? Why does God say seek Heaven first and all these things will be given to you? ( add the usually " well you have to do something for it of course" note here ) Hopefully we are past the basic milk of the word.
Jon and I were talking one day about a cattle sale he was at and an Amish man with three boys sitting in front of him. He wondered briefly why they were not in school and then said that they were taught what they need to survive in their society.
Words and terms seem ill defined. Lie Church. What is that? The definition I have is Christ's body. Only one of them. And the only way to be late for it was to die before becoming a part of it.
People are obsessed with time.
I'll leave this open for now. There is SO much more that can be said, so many points to look at. It is not that easy but it is also not that hard. I feel though that most would be no different that the Israelites after they left Egypt and complain on how much better it was back under slavery in Egypt. And that is what we are in, slavery. To the time clock, to the clock in general. To the job we have. To the things we think we need, to the life we live. Like Jacob Marley dragging the chains he forged in life.
Is there a plan? Should there be?
mike
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