Chapter 2 - Remembering Christianity

In this chapter she makes some statements that most of us take for granted but that are controversial in many churches. I often forget that most conservative Christians believe this is a Christian nation, founded by evangelical Christians, and feel threatened by opposing views. When she taught history at an evangelical Christian college, whenever she noted that the "Founding Fathers had less-than-orthodox theological ideas and less-than-pious personal lives" students protested and insisted the founders intended this to be a Christian nation (people still believe this?!!!). But we are a nation of many stories. And, as she said, "European Christians [may have] politically established the United States, but this fact does not make us a Christian nation." She is reminding us that we are indeed often still "the Other Christians." Which is fine with me.

She describes a "Third Way" that runs between religious fundamentalism and extreme secularism/skepticism that we as the "Other" Christians have inherited - "an open faith that encouraged personal religious commitment and social responsibility." But she notes helpfully that this is difficult to maintain because it depends on moderating conflicting extremes. In some ways it becomes defined predominantly by what it isn't. This isn't too far from the way we often describe ourselves. "Well, I'm not that kind of Christian." But is that compelling? In some ways the Open and Affirming movement has helped many churches define themselves more confidently. Instead of implying that we are sorry we aren't in the mainstream of Christianity - those who exlude people based on some human characteristic - we have been empowered to define ourselves in such a way that those who would exclude need to explain why. Instead of, why do you accept "them," those on the defensive should be expected to say why they don't - the implication that they are the ones who are wrong. Or is that just trying to gain the upper hand. To put myself in a position of power. Having been among the excluded, however, I'm not opposed to having a little power. But, to remember the prophet Jeremiah, "if you're going to boast, boast of God," not yourself.

She notes that the creative "Third Way" congregations (don't Buddhists speak of The Middle Way?) provide open spaces amid cultural questions and tensions, and that they are found in congregations that value comprehensiveness over exclusion. "Church is the space where saints and sinners gather to hear God's word, engage in practices of prayer and service, and be transformed through participation. There is no spiritual test to come in, no intellectual position to which one must agree." Having noted this, I like it, but I also recognize the challenge to remain open to intellectual positions that I don't think are smart (or rather, that I think are ignorant - sorry). But let's not also forget that it is practices of both prayer and service - not just service. And it's participation that is transformational.

We need to keep coming back to this one - participation in the life of the church that is transformational. Note the key within that word for all of us - formation. To me, Christianity should be about a way of life and the church should be helping to form us to live in the world. If the church has no expectations of us, what is transformational about that? If we are not trying to transform lives, doesn't that just settle back into mediocre? And again, what is compelling about that for anyone who is searching for something deeper and passionate?

I would encourage us to think a little more about whether we are busy being the church or dedicated to changing lives - not in some "come and be saved" context but "this is a really difficult world and we have found something meaningful in our practice of faith that has radically transformed our participation in it. A way of being in the world but not of it - not escaping it but engaging it with the values of social justice that have been formed by our discernment and prayer and listening for God's will, exemplified in the life of Jesus." Too wordy?! Why are we busy being the church?

I'm enjoying the kinds of thoughts she is prompting in me.
What are your responses? If you are having a hard time writing a response on blog, send me an email at pastor@parkhillchurch.org. I know there are some folks who have written comments and they have disappeared into cyberspace.
David