"Three Journey's Endings"
This relates to a discussion of Homosexuality at the Christianity community. You can find and comment on it here as well. I may also make this the flagship post of a new, "Emergent" blog on blogspot.
The issue of judging, in any matter is one I have been pondering recently. While I need to go back and dig up the verses again, there is stuff in Paul about judging by one's fruits. I feel this is an important standard. Another, related is the Jesus' command to judge not lest you not be judged. Thus, the standard of judgement you use for others is the same that will apply to you.
Lets try applying this. I can actually see it upholding differing forms of "judgement" from Christians in times of deep division, AND help draw us all towards God's deeper truth, together.
I feel this may be a key to understanding some of the deepest divisions in the church today, on many issues. I have tried to do justice to two ways of loving Jesus deeply, but I would welcome others to crique my portrayal. I can only truly speak for where I am.
A) One person belives homosexuality is wrong, and as they deeply love scripture as the foundation of their faith, they cannot see how to ignore those passages. They want to help EVERYONE reach heaven and experience God's love, so if a homosexual person joins a church they are honest about what they believe as sin, and do it in a loving way. Furthermore, they get to know that person, so well that any criticism they give is out of a deep knowledge of that person's life and experiences. This ends up leading to a deep friendship... perhaps the person stays, perhaps they leave because they jsut can't feel at home in a place that thinks their identity is a sin. Nevertheless, they are touched by the grace that "person A" brought into their life.
B) This person also claims to be firmly grounded in scripture. However, they seem to spend more time condemning people with its verses (even get some hidden satisfaction from this), focus on verses that condemn to the exclusion of the "love" verses, and don't at all model Christ's love in their own lives. A person who is gay enters their church, and they rail into them about hell and abomination without even taking the time to learn their name. The person leaves, deeply hurt and turned off to Christianity.
C) This person loves God and Jesus, and has since they were a child in a loving community. In college and later, however they struggle deeply around parts of scripture. At points, they even question the possibility of even remaining Chrisitan, because certain things in the Bible seem to deeply clash with their understanding of our modern world or, even worse condemn and hurt people they know personally. They enter a season of struggling, but believe the love of God and power of Jesus they see uniquely in Christianity calls them to remain a Disciple in the Way of Jesus. They are fortunate to find a church which also wrestles deeply with these issues, while trying to build genuine spiritually and socially engaged community together. They meet a homosexual person who has been rejected by many churches, but found a wonderful home here. They see the fruits of the Spirit and God's grace in that person's life, get to know them as a good friend and rejoice together how God's grace has reached them both despite the obstacles they faced in their journey.
How would Jesus judge each of these people, according to the standard of judgement they both used to others?
"A" loved scripture and the relationship with Jesus which it led them to. Everything they did strove to be faithful to scripture, but refused to let the letter of the law obscure the law of liberating love. They left a trace of love in the lives of countless people, even those who did not come to Christ in their presence. I can imagine God saying "Welcome, good and faithful servant. You loved me, my word and shared both with so many people. Countless lives have been touched, in ways you'll spend eternity realizing. Enter in, and recieve your reward."
What of "C?" This person struggled deeply, but it was a struggle marked in every way with the love they bore for God. It led them through some hard places, and to meet people who had their own problems finding a home in the Christian faith. Ultimately, however their struggles touched lives outside of traditional boundaries of church, and lessons and fruits were formed in them in ways unseen, even to them. In time, they found a community which brought out their gifts fully, and helped them to help others through their difficult, seeking path. God's judgement (I hope, though I'm most hesitant to guess because, I admit this person is me) "Welcome, good and faithful servant. You have loved me, wrestled with many angels and, through your love of people touched many who I could not have otherwise reached. Come, enter my Kingdom and find the answers which have eluded you for so long."
As for "B?" I am again hesitant to judge, but cannot ignore the fact that, of all three this person most resembles the Pharisees Jesus condemned. They used scripture like a club, never even looking for the face of God in the suffering people they met. They only increased suffering and confusion for many. Further, the burdens they placed on others were never turned towards their own lives, hypocrisy and arrogance reigned. Jesus' own words, "depart, I knew you not" seem dangerously close to their path. Yet, my belief in God's love has hope even for this person... I also hope that very few Christians are truly in this place forever.
Would it be possible to create a type "D," someone who rejects scripture, "accepts all," but uses this as an excuse to live a self-centered, self-serving and shallow life? I dont' think it would be hard to imagine, makes a good counter-balance to B on the other extreme that Jesus might have trouble recognizing. I also hope that there may be people He recognizes outside of any of these models, even outside of church. But that is another topic, for another day...
My point is, there are many responses that are deeply Christlike, on both sides of debates- and many that aren't. I think certain values which are vital, for all of us emerge from each. Perhaps by listening to them, and each other we might find more unity in the Body in this world, as well as the next.
The issue of judging, in any matter is one I have been pondering recently. While I need to go back and dig up the verses again, there is stuff in Paul about judging by one's fruits. I feel this is an important standard. Another, related is the Jesus' command to judge not lest you not be judged. Thus, the standard of judgement you use for others is the same that will apply to you.
Lets try applying this. I can actually see it upholding differing forms of "judgement" from Christians in times of deep division, AND help draw us all towards God's deeper truth, together.
I feel this may be a key to understanding some of the deepest divisions in the church today, on many issues. I have tried to do justice to two ways of loving Jesus deeply, but I would welcome others to crique my portrayal. I can only truly speak for where I am.
A) One person belives homosexuality is wrong, and as they deeply love scripture as the foundation of their faith, they cannot see how to ignore those passages. They want to help EVERYONE reach heaven and experience God's love, so if a homosexual person joins a church they are honest about what they believe as sin, and do it in a loving way. Furthermore, they get to know that person, so well that any criticism they give is out of a deep knowledge of that person's life and experiences. This ends up leading to a deep friendship... perhaps the person stays, perhaps they leave because they jsut can't feel at home in a place that thinks their identity is a sin. Nevertheless, they are touched by the grace that "person A" brought into their life.
B) This person also claims to be firmly grounded in scripture. However, they seem to spend more time condemning people with its verses (even get some hidden satisfaction from this), focus on verses that condemn to the exclusion of the "love" verses, and don't at all model Christ's love in their own lives. A person who is gay enters their church, and they rail into them about hell and abomination without even taking the time to learn their name. The person leaves, deeply hurt and turned off to Christianity.
C) This person loves God and Jesus, and has since they were a child in a loving community. In college and later, however they struggle deeply around parts of scripture. At points, they even question the possibility of even remaining Chrisitan, because certain things in the Bible seem to deeply clash with their understanding of our modern world or, even worse condemn and hurt people they know personally. They enter a season of struggling, but believe the love of God and power of Jesus they see uniquely in Christianity calls them to remain a Disciple in the Way of Jesus. They are fortunate to find a church which also wrestles deeply with these issues, while trying to build genuine spiritually and socially engaged community together. They meet a homosexual person who has been rejected by many churches, but found a wonderful home here. They see the fruits of the Spirit and God's grace in that person's life, get to know them as a good friend and rejoice together how God's grace has reached them both despite the obstacles they faced in their journey.
How would Jesus judge each of these people, according to the standard of judgement they both used to others?
"A" loved scripture and the relationship with Jesus which it led them to. Everything they did strove to be faithful to scripture, but refused to let the letter of the law obscure the law of liberating love. They left a trace of love in the lives of countless people, even those who did not come to Christ in their presence. I can imagine God saying "Welcome, good and faithful servant. You loved me, my word and shared both with so many people. Countless lives have been touched, in ways you'll spend eternity realizing. Enter in, and recieve your reward."
What of "C?" This person struggled deeply, but it was a struggle marked in every way with the love they bore for God. It led them through some hard places, and to meet people who had their own problems finding a home in the Christian faith. Ultimately, however their struggles touched lives outside of traditional boundaries of church, and lessons and fruits were formed in them in ways unseen, even to them. In time, they found a community which brought out their gifts fully, and helped them to help others through their difficult, seeking path. God's judgement (I hope, though I'm most hesitant to guess because, I admit this person is me) "Welcome, good and faithful servant. You have loved me, wrestled with many angels and, through your love of people touched many who I could not have otherwise reached. Come, enter my Kingdom and find the answers which have eluded you for so long."
As for "B?" I am again hesitant to judge, but cannot ignore the fact that, of all three this person most resembles the Pharisees Jesus condemned. They used scripture like a club, never even looking for the face of God in the suffering people they met. They only increased suffering and confusion for many. Further, the burdens they placed on others were never turned towards their own lives, hypocrisy and arrogance reigned. Jesus' own words, "depart, I knew you not" seem dangerously close to their path. Yet, my belief in God's love has hope even for this person... I also hope that very few Christians are truly in this place forever.
Would it be possible to create a type "D," someone who rejects scripture, "accepts all," but uses this as an excuse to live a self-centered, self-serving and shallow life? I dont' think it would be hard to imagine, makes a good counter-balance to B on the other extreme that Jesus might have trouble recognizing. I also hope that there may be people He recognizes outside of any of these models, even outside of church. But that is another topic, for another day...
My point is, there are many responses that are deeply Christlike, on both sides of debates- and many that aren't. I think certain values which are vital, for all of us emerge from each. Perhaps by listening to them, and each other we might find more unity in the Body in this world, as well as the next.