I'm an Episcopalian.
In the circles where I run day to day, that's as odd as seeing a Night Parrot. Not exactly extinct, but certainly close to it.
I'm an Episcopalian, who has a very odd relationship with his tradition.
There it is. Once I qualify the sentence, you can begin to see why I'm not quite extinct, "but certainly close to it".
I'm asked, on occasion, if I can just simply join the Methodists.
Well, turns out it's not that simple.
When the gospel doesn't matter Christians tend to default to the dominant language of the American culture: Consumerism. That is, people think about church in relation to their likes and dislikes. They like peanut butter and they don't like cauliflower. They prefer vanilla ice cream and they don't prefer rocky road.
In my circles, you hear a lot of this in relation to the worship service and the preaching. Basically expressing likes and dislikes about what happens on Sunday morning.
I've grown tired of this sort of thing. Not sick and tired. Not angry tired. Just weary tired. To be sure there are things I like and dislike about being Episcopal. There are things, if I were in charge, that I'd change. But I've grown weary of using this filter for church and the spiritual life. I'm tired of thinking about the Kingdom through the prism of my preferences.
The other indication that the gospel doesn't matter is over-intellectualizing. I'm a trained academic. It's my life to over-intellectualize. And I'm pretty damn good at it. I'm one of the best in making biblical topics "interesting". That talent for finding the "interesting" angle is what gives this blog the variety and freshness it has.
But I'm getting weary of being interesting. (Don't worry, I'm not talking about this blog. I'm talking about church life.) The opposite of interesting is boring. I'm growing tired of putting that filter over my spiritual life and church life, sorting what bores me from what interests me.
These filters -- preferences and boredom -- fall away when the Gospel matters. When Christians are trying simply to survive, the Gospel matters. They have a different agenda in listening for the Word of God. They don't don't use the language of liking or not liking. It's not a filter they use. They also don't come to hear something interesting, intellectually speaking.
For Christians, the gospel isn't a hobby, or a book club, or a form of entertainment.
For them, the gospel matters.
This especially hits me every time I read the Beatitudes. Often times, hearing those statements in church, we resort to sentimentality or platitudinization. If you're like me, and you're confronted by those words, you'll know we're talking something closer to life and death.
The Beatitudes are some of the craziest words Jesus ever spoke.
Ask anyone on the street, "Who gets ahead? Who comes out number 1? Who are 'the blessed'?" and come away with real and honest answers and you'll see what I mean.
Generally speaking, we all live several lives. When we're living with The System, we have compliant faces. We're nice, because we have bills to pay. Then, there's the face we show to survive. We have a public face -- church, work. It's our nice, devout, and together face. And then there's the real us that sits behind that mask.
Week to week, when you sit in public with Christians, you can come away with the image that we're the most devout bunch of people you'll ever see. But it's all an illusion. Sure, we're generally grateful. But there's another side. A darker side.
So, if we're honest, in our world, and we ask, "Who are the blessed?" The best answer is: "The violent". You know it. I know it. We all know it.
Who are the blessed?
Well ...
The "virtues" that help you get ahead, survive, thrive?
We all know it's true.
Then, there's the list Jesus put together:
Reading the Beatitudes is really a matter of life and death.
Can we be meek, poor in spirit or merciful? If we're honest, we know that'll cost you. You'll get taken advantage of, or hurt, or worse.
So when Jesus says these words, he's really asking us to die.
So every time I read them, I hesitate. These words really matter. I hesitate again. For one simple reason: I'm not sure I'm even ready to follow. There's a fear in me. Sometimes, I lack the courage, too.
Karl Barth once said the Gospel can be summarized in one word: "Nevertheless". So, let me continue this little meditation with one word:
But ...
The Gospel matters. Sure, it's suicide. But the Kingdom of God that's breaking into the world brings new life. A life of peace -- wholeness, shalom -- that is merciful and meek. Where God's justice renews all creation. Certain things won't make it. But out of death, there's life.
These Beatitudes are scary ... but ...
In the circles where I run day to day, that's as odd as seeing a Night Parrot. Not exactly extinct, but certainly close to it.
I'm an Episcopalian, who has a very odd relationship with his tradition.
There it is. Once I qualify the sentence, you can begin to see why I'm not quite extinct, "but certainly close to it".I'm asked, on occasion, if I can just simply join the Methodists.
Well, turns out it's not that simple.
When the gospel doesn't matter Christians tend to default to the dominant language of the American culture: Consumerism. That is, people think about church in relation to their likes and dislikes. They like peanut butter and they don't like cauliflower. They prefer vanilla ice cream and they don't prefer rocky road.
In my circles, you hear a lot of this in relation to the worship service and the preaching. Basically expressing likes and dislikes about what happens on Sunday morning.
I've grown tired of this sort of thing. Not sick and tired. Not angry tired. Just weary tired. To be sure there are things I like and dislike about being Episcopal. There are things, if I were in charge, that I'd change. But I've grown weary of using this filter for church and the spiritual life. I'm tired of thinking about the Kingdom through the prism of my preferences.
The other indication that the gospel doesn't matter is over-intellectualizing. I'm a trained academic. It's my life to over-intellectualize. And I'm pretty damn good at it. I'm one of the best in making biblical topics "interesting". That talent for finding the "interesting" angle is what gives this blog the variety and freshness it has.
But I'm getting weary of being interesting. (Don't worry, I'm not talking about this blog. I'm talking about church life.) The opposite of interesting is boring. I'm growing tired of putting that filter over my spiritual life and church life, sorting what bores me from what interests me.
These filters -- preferences and boredom -- fall away when the Gospel matters. When Christians are trying simply to survive, the Gospel matters. They have a different agenda in listening for the Word of God. They don't don't use the language of liking or not liking. It's not a filter they use. They also don't come to hear something interesting, intellectually speaking.
For Christians, the gospel isn't a hobby, or a book club, or a form of entertainment.
For them, the gospel matters.
This especially hits me every time I read the Beatitudes. Often times, hearing those statements in church, we resort to sentimentality or platitudinization. If you're like me, and you're confronted by those words, you'll know we're talking something closer to life and death.
The Beatitudes are some of the craziest words Jesus ever spoke.
Ask anyone on the street, "Who gets ahead? Who comes out number 1? Who are 'the blessed'?" and come away with real and honest answers and you'll see what I mean.
Generally speaking, we all live several lives. When we're living with The System, we have compliant faces. We're nice, because we have bills to pay. Then, there's the face we show to survive. We have a public face -- church, work. It's our nice, devout, and together face. And then there's the real us that sits behind that mask.
Week to week, when you sit in public with Christians, you can come away with the image that we're the most devout bunch of people you'll ever see. But it's all an illusion. Sure, we're generally grateful. But there's another side. A darker side.
So, if we're honest, in our world, and we ask, "Who are the blessed?" The best answer is: "The violent". You know it. I know it. We all know it.
Who are the blessed?
Well ...
The thieves.
The liars.
The manipulators.
The hypocrites.
The wealthy.
The strong.
The "virtues" that help you get ahead, survive, thrive?
We all know it's true.
Then, there's the list Jesus put together:
Blessed are the poor in spirit ...In light of all the honesty I've been writing, those words are red hot. They burn. When we read the Beatitudes in church, they sound all nice and polite. But when you get out into the world, and read those words, they're dangerous.
Blessed are those who mourn ...
Blessed are the meek ...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ...
Blessed are the merciful ...
Blessed are the pure in heart ...
Blessed are the peacemakers ...
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness ...
Reading the Beatitudes is really a matter of life and death.
Can we be meek, poor in spirit or merciful? If we're honest, we know that'll cost you. You'll get taken advantage of, or hurt, or worse.
So when Jesus says these words, he's really asking us to die.
So every time I read them, I hesitate. These words really matter. I hesitate again. For one simple reason: I'm not sure I'm even ready to follow. There's a fear in me. Sometimes, I lack the courage, too.
* * * * *
Karl Barth once said the Gospel can be summarized in one word: "Nevertheless". So, let me continue this little meditation with one word:
But ...
The Gospel matters. Sure, it's suicide. But the Kingdom of God that's breaking into the world brings new life. A life of peace -- wholeness, shalom -- that is merciful and meek. Where God's justice renews all creation. Certain things won't make it. But out of death, there's life.
These Beatitudes are scary ... but ...