My Church vs. Your Church

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

Sunday's sermon examined how we think about and respond to the differences among Christian denominations. While I certainly feel that what unites Christians is bigger and more important than what divides us, there is no avoiding the fact that there is tremendous diversity within Christianity. In fact, we have brothers and sisters in Christ whose practice of Christianity, at times, may seem disturbing, irrational or laughable to us. I can assure you, the feeling is mutual! They look at our practices with equal scepticism and disbelief often wondering how we could possibly consider worshipping as we do!! As my good friend and mentor, Reverend Michael Stewart, once said, "People who think they know everything really annoy those of us who do!"

I guess part of the human condition is the tendency to feel as if you have "seen the light" when it comes to something as personal as spirituality. We all enter the fray of life where discussions happen, planned and unplanned, operating under an often unrecognized personal preference for our own beliefs and the experiences that shaped them. Sadly, for them, most people we meet have not had the sacred and precious experiences that revealed to us the "truth" about the controversial issues of our time. They were too busy having their own sacred and precious experiences...you know, the ones that revealed a different "truth" to them!

An awareness of this paradox is a crucial part a maturing spiritual life. It is humbling, (Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.) and allows us to begin to engage others empathetically, keeping in mind that they have as much chance of being right as we do! Moreover, it is incumbent on us to respond in a way that reflects the sacrificial & foot-washing love of our servant Savior. Indeed, as the famous hymn goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love." For some reason it doesn't mention that they'll know we are Christians by how smart and self-assured we are.

Rather than fighting other members of our Christian family and/or dwelling on what is wrong with them or what we don't like about them, maybe we should try something that mature people learn in marriages and extended families.
1.) Understand that we all have shortcomings and weaknesses. For your sake, you should be able to list a number of your own flaws. Really knowing yourself (and taking time to reflect on your weaknesses) is a good way to begin being merciful to others.
2.) Accept that other members of the family, like you, have weaknesses and problems.
3.) For their happiness and your own, try to spend what time you have with them focusing on the good in them. (obviously this prescription doesn't apply to an abusive situation)
4.) Enjoy a deepening appreciation of them and a growing joy as you begin to live a more thankful and praise-oriented life!

The reality is that our church (Christianity) has many members...a family. Each denomination is a part of that family. I suppose the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are the aged parents. We protestant denominations are the children and grandchildren, i.e., equal members of the same family. Could it be that the diversity within our faith is, at this point in history, God's plan? Obviously, I can't say for certain. I do know we are able to reach more people this way. Different bait do catch different fish AND more fish. Moreover, each denomination's particular passion or focus serves to hold the other churches accountable to a valid part of discipleship. For example, the Baptist churches and the Church of Christ seem to revere the Word of God like no other groups. As another example, the Catholic and Anglican churches honor the sacraments like no other. Maybe we can think of the church universal using Paul's metaphor of the body. We all need one another to accomplish the goal.

What do you think?
Ever had a particularly nasty religious discussion with someone?
How do you think we should relate to other Christian groups? Why?

Navigating by the Golden Compass

This Sunday's message was inspired by a series of books written by Phillip Pullman. The series is called, His Dark Materials. The first book in the trilogy, The Golden Compass, has been made into a movie spawning a lot of controversy regarding the author's atheism and motives in writing a story that would be both attractive to kids and very negative toward the church and Christianity.

How should Christians respond to perceived attacks from atheists and/or other elements of popular culture? What should our disposition be toward critiques that come from outside Christendom? What should be the tenor of our response.

In my sermon, I argued that our disposition toward outside critiques should not hostile or suspicious. It seems to me that such a disposition only communicates an anxiety about the possible truth of the critique itself. If we truly believe that our faith is centered on the Creator God, why should we be reactionary or anxious about attacks be they from without or within. On some deep level do we fear that our God is a theoretical balloon that might be popped by the right question? What do we have to fear?

Rather than taking a fearful or hostile pose towards critique or attack, I submit that the people of the living God should fear nothing. As such, we should be able to calmly hear this input, taking it as a learning opportunity. Perhaps we can see in it the ways we have failed and misrepresented God. Maybe, just maybe, God can even use people who see themselves as His foes as tools for correcting and purifying the faith He has inspired and created. Maybe they are a gift to us. Maybe they are even sacramental in an sense, i.e., a means of God's salvific grace in the world. If God brings the rain to pour and the sun to shine on the wicked and the godly (He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45), why would he not also seek to use those inside and outside the church for His purposes. Don't we believe that no one is beyond the reach of His grace?

I welcome Pullman's book, in principle, and look forward to hearing your response Sunday's sermon and this post.
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