I probably owe lots of people apologies...even though I'm not very sorry yet...
This week has been "Spiritual Emphasis Week" at school, and it's brought to the surface plenty of emotions and tensions that have been buried in my chest for a long time. In short, I'm reminded of how much I don't like Christians.
I don't exactly know how to explain why I don't like you people, or what exactly you do that that bothers me...maybe its because you frustrate me by spending more time discussing accountability partners and why you aren't doing devotions and why not dating is making you a better Christian than about Jesus....maybe it's because the way you present the Bible makes me want to burn it.......or maybe its just because I think you’re stupid and intellectually incompetent…..
I read an article recently by a lady who described her reaction to "churcyness" by saying something along the lines of "I don't have a problem with God; I just can't stand his friends”. I completely understand where she’s coming from…
I honestly don't know what to do with you people. I'm angry at how you present Jesus’ message, and how being around you seems to suck the magic out of the Gospel. I'm saddened by what it seems like following Christ means you, and I'm embarrassed by the way your social and political ideology affects my reputation.
.....I want you people to know that I'm sorry....I'm sorry for my bad attitude and for being arrogant and for thinking that I'm better than you. I'm sorry for considering you narrow-minded idiots, since I'm sure that somehow that's not the case. I'm sorry that in my anger I haven't made much of an effort to love and care for you. I'm sorry for not listening to you and for not liking you....I'm sorry about how I'm more concerned about my reputation and the way you affect it than helping you understand. I’m sorry that I forget that God loves and cares about you and thinks that you’re important, and I’m sorry that I don’t treat you that way...you deserve better, and I apologize.
.... I think mostly I'm sorry about the fact that I'm not very sorry yet....
…..I’m working on it………just not quite there…..
13 comments:
Hey, you should check out Dan Kimball's new book: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. This one is for church leaders, and I think it would give you some constructive language for engaging your friends and others that frustrate you. (You can borrow this one from me, I already have it, though I haven't had time to fully read it yet.)
He has another book coming out Feb of 2008 for everybody, called: I Like Jesus but Not the Church: Following Jesus Without Following Organized Religion.
Just some food for thought.
It's pretty easy to get frustrated with the church, but it's so hard to recognize that we're a part of the body of Christ. Despite theological, political, social differences, all Christians share an incredible bond. This is the context in which Paul tells us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). Actually, that whole chapter says it way better than I could.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=56&chapter=4&version=47
Thanks, Ryan, I'd love to borrow it..
Toph- I agree with that, and it is often really hard to remember...thanks.
*I'm not necessarily making a fair analogy, but what kind of bond would Jesus' disciples have shared with the Pharisees and Sadducees?
Not sure where your question about Jesus' disciples and the Pharisees is going . . . but I am pretty sure there was not much of a "bond" between them since the Jews pretty much hunted down, oppressed, tortured, and killed the followers of Jesus (see Stephen in Acts, Paul before his conversion, Paul on trial after his conversion etc).
The disciples always were passionate about Jews following Jesus, since Jesus to them was the Messiah they were all waiting for. They loved the Jews and their leaders, but were clearly at odds with them early on.
You might begin to draw some paralells between Christian leaders and the Pharisees when Christianity began to become more of a cultural religion than a way of of life.
One other interesting thought about the Church . . . we are going to be wrestling with this very subject at Day 7 (www.day7.net) this summer. I ran into a pastor a few weeks ago who said he was so committed to Jesus' Church that he would rather lose his job and reputation than have anything be said against the Church. This stirred the tension I feel between the "institution" and the "reality" of what Jesus started. We'll be looking at the pictures the early church used to express their passion and desires for the Church. I think it's going to be called "Isn't She Beautiful" since one of the pictures is the Church is the Bride of Christ. So let me know what questions you think we should wrestle with along these lines . . . How do we do church? What is NOT church? How do we reconcile the imperfections of people in the Church? How do we honor the Church while challenging the institution? How do we submit to the authority of church leaders? Let me know what else you come up with or how you would better express these questions.
Ryan- I'm really excited about that series! Yeah, bascially there'd probably be value in defining "What is church?" and "What is playing church?" I'm really interested in learning about the ways in which the church is supossed to interact with the culture...obviously, not all of this would necessarily be appropriate for a day 7 sermon, but here are my questions.....
1) What exactly was Jesus trying to do? How did he interact with the culture, and to what extent was he trying to transform it? OR, was he simply trying to reach individuals and nothing else? (we've kinda gone over this before, like chill out etc. bukt I'm definately still confused...)
2)Is the church supposed to = the culture, or be a counter culture?
3) If it's supposed to be a couner-cultre which exists within a larger culture, what does that look like?
4) We, as Christians, are kina known for crusading to conquer the culture through actions such as "Reclaiming America for God". What does the Bible's picute of what church means mean for these situations? (I'm not exactly sure what my question is...maybe i'm just confused about whats going on here...)
5) Are we supposed to be trying to "capture the culture"? If no, then how do we relate to it?
*If you are confused about my questions because of unclear definitions, let me know....
**I realize that my questions overlap and are redundant...
***I'm remembering Donald Miller's comments in Blue Like Jazz about this stuff, I think in the chapter "How to go to church without getting angry"...there might be cool stuff in there...
That's a great series idea, Ryan. I'll probably miss it, what with this whole graduation and college thing, so let me know how it turns out.
Caitlin, I'd recommend this awesome book by John Stott called Christian Counter-Culture. It's pretty thorough analysis of the Sermon on the Mount, and basically lays out the Christian's role in society. I don't remember it specifically addressing the church as an institution, but doubtless Jesus's words are applicable.
In one instance Stott explains the command to be the salt of the world. Salt is a preservative, so if meat goes bad, the problem is on the salt's end. We shouldn't get upset at the world for being rotten - that's normal. We should focus on our role in preserving it.
Toph - you can always listen via podcast!
Caitlin - I think the appropriate word to wrestle with in regards to what Jesus was trying to do and how the church is supposed to engage the culture is "redemption" . . . which is an act of redeeming which is defined as:
1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.
2. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
3. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.
4. to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
5. to convert (paper money) into specie.
6. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
7. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.): His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.
8. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
9. Theology. to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.
I think Jesus was continuing the "restoration" or "redemption" of the world since the Fall. The Church is to continue that restoration and redemption. The amazing thing is that God is MUCH more patient and less judgemental than Christians tend to be. Reference how God allows for things like slavery and divorce by teaching us how to honor each other within these "broken" conditions while ultimately calling us to go beyond these allowances to a "full life."
Just the beginning of some of my thinking.
We'll be looking at the church as a Bride (to be presented spotless and blameless), a Body (to work together and be dependent on each other), an Eucharist (to be broke and be given away), an Olive Branch(rooted in the ancient and continuing story of God's work in the world), an Ecclesia (a gathering who claims allegiance to Jesus as King), and as Israel (a broken and ransomed people).
There are a ton of other pictures of the church (crop, harvest, building, pillar, priesthood, house, holy nation, family, incarnation, etc), but the above have risen to the top.
catilin.
why do you care about this stuff?
why does it matter?
i think you need more friends
=P
i wasnt kidding when i said i read your blog loserr.
-Luie. I'm not exactly sure that it does matter, and I'm working on understanding why I care...
I also struggle with the Pharisees. I know some awesome individuals and then you get to church and these same people become a mass of churchiness and legalism. Sometimes I ask God not to look because it pains me to think He’s watching. The part that scares me the most is the Pharisee inside of me. I see these people around me and realize, I am probably one too. I want out of the bubble so bad AND I want to take God with me to wherever I end up. Where is a tax collector when you need one?
I just started reading a couple books that address some of your questions about Jesus, culture, and church.
One is more than a bit heady but it tackles your cultural questions head on, Foolishness to the Greeks. It is talking about how the gospel manifests itself in culture. The author says the gospel always speaks the language of the culture and confronts the culture. I haven't gotten farther than that.
The pther is Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens. Its talking about moving away from the institution of church and more towards the family, community, relational church. It's definitely challenging me to think about what is non-negotiable for "church" to happen and what's extra.
reminds me of the old sermon about the fellow who goes to pastor and says, "i really like so and so and want to marry her, but i just can't stand her kids."
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