Here I Stand - Part 6

We continue our journey talking about core principles. For me, core principle #6 (and I think it's a biggy) is "Christian discipleship in intentional, not accidental." Again, I know that this is not rocket science (I think I heard the collective "duh" from the blogosphere). But, this is an important principle to articulate. It is important because so often we treat our spiritual life in a hit-or-miss, come what may kind of way. And, as often happens, this approach leaves us suprised and disappointed. I don't know why we are surprised. Would we be surprised if we said we were going to run a maration, but prepared ourselves by sitting in front of the TV watching Oprah and Andy Griffith reruns while eating Cheetos and washing it down with a Big Gulp soda? No, we would not be surprised because we know that, not only did we not prepare ourselves for the marathon; we actually did everything we could not to succeed. I am never surprised when they announce the lottery numbers and I don't win - not because of the astronomically long odds associated with winning the lottery, but because I don't buy a lottery ticket. The same is true of our faith. If we are going to deepen our faith, we must exercise those spiritual muscles every now and then. In the Methodist tradition, we say that God has ordained the “means of grace” for this purpose. The means of grace are “outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be ordinary whereby he might convey to men [and women] preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace.” That's a quote from John Wesley. He talks pretty, doesn't he? Anyway, the regular practice of the means of grace is a fundamental by which we come to know God and discern the stirrings of God’s spirit. They include things like prayer, bible study, small groups, acts of service, acts of mercy, etc. The list is long. Some scriptures that might help illuminate this principle are Romans 8:1-8, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 26:20-29. Christian discipleship in intentional, not accidental. Here I stand.

Truth - Or a Reasonable Facsimile Thereof

This Sunday, we are finishing up our current sermon series, "Christianity's Family Tree." This has been a fun series, and an enlightening one. I have learned a lot about other Christian traditions. But, I have also learned about myself.

A few weeks ago, while I was attending conference in Nashville, I had an interesting experience. I was sitting in the hotel lobby, waiting for the shuttle. It was very peaceful and quiet and I was enjoying a great book. All of the sudden, the lobby doors opened and a woman walked through lobby exclaiming at the top of her lungs, “In the name of JESUS, I anoint this place for His purpose. In JESUS name, I cast all want, all worry, all suffering, all pain." She went on and on as she passed through, all the while two companions on either side of her would shout "Amen" every few seconds. The first time she hit the hard “J” in Jesus, I almost jumped out of my chair. No one else seemed fazed one bit. At first, I thought, “welcome to Nashville,” in my kind of haughty and arrogant sort of way(we practice “real” Christianity, “civilized” Christianity in suburban Orange County).

Then I reflected on it for a few moments. And I realized that there was absolutely nothing wrong with what this lady said. In fact, whenever I fly, I hold the chair back in front of me before takeoff and say a prayer for the flight. This woman and I both have the same goals, God’s blessings on the people around us. We just ask God for those blessings differently. And sometimes, those differences make us uncomfortable with one another.

Well, if this sermon series has taught me anything it is that God is bigger than the tiny little box I put Him in, and he is able to be experienced in a variety of ways. In fact, it is the diversity of the church that represents its greatest strength. God has more tools in his box than we can possibly imagine. So, next time someone's prayer (or religious outburst) makes you uncomfortable, right before you climb up on that high horse, just remember, the church is bigger than you, and the church is bigger than me...and God is bigger than us all.

Doubt

Cindy and I saw the film "Doubt" last night. If you don't want to know anything about the movie, skip this blog. It was an incredible movie. Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays Father Flynn, a progressive young priest in a Bronx parish in 1964. Meryl Streep plays Sister Aloysius, the nun in charge of the parish school. Suffice it to say, she is not big on the idea of change. The film opens with a sermon. "What do you do when you're not sure," Father Flynn asks. He goes on to talk about doubt, how it is human to doubt (I would have added that it is also biblical to doubt). He ends the sermon with the phrase, "Doubt is as much of a bond as certainty." This movie was so good on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin. So, I will begin with doubt. I told my wife Cindy afted the opening sermon "that'll preach" (which, I guess, is stating the obvious). But, what I meant was that the truth expressed in that brief homily was so powerful that it should be preached by every honest pastor in the church. I say honest because, if we are going to be honest with ourselves, we have to acknowledge that doubt exists in all of our hearts. And that coming together and acknowledging our doubt will ultimately make us, not only more faithful, but more compassionate, more Christ-like. By that I simply mean that certainty begets passion and commitment, very righteous virtues, to be sure. But, certainty has also begotten great cruelty (Sister Aloysius being one allegorical example). Religious certainty has led to some of the most heroic acts of compassion (e.g. the entire adult life of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, the career of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to name just a couple of the more famous examples). However, religious certainty has also led to some of the most heinous acts of human cruelty ever perpetrated (again, to name a few of the more famous examples - the Inquisition, slavery, 9/11). So what is the answer? How do we work it all out? I have know idea. But, I do know this (well, I am pretty sure, anyway). Doubt is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, it causes us to be compassionate where before we were judgmental. And, when in doubt, go with the law of love - love the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. And in case you are wondering who your neighbor is, according to the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus pushes the envelope all the way out to include your most bitter and hatred enemy.