My experience of Christians (particularly lately) is that many of them -- including me -- are really quite clumsy. Not literally stumbling or falling over ourselves, but often doing the social equivalent. We put our feet in our mouths, we make others feel uncomfortable, we have a knack of saying the right thing at the wrong time, and vice versa.
It may be the exuberant charismatic Christian who just assumes that everybody else is on the same page as them. It might be the type who drops Christian jargon and ideas into every conversation. It could be the awkward, shy, "uncomfortable to be around" Christian. Or even the one who seems embarrassed to be, or at least to be known to be, a Christian.
I suspect that whether you're a Christian, not a Christian, or not sure what you believe, you can at least identify with my experience. That is, we Christians can be quite clumsy. In fact, as I read back over this, I've used the word Christian eight times already -- am I just proving my point?!?
Of course, there are all kinds of reasons why some people gel together and others don't. Like attracts like. We feel comfortable with our "tribe". We get nervous around people we don't understand. We fear the unknown. We want to be accepted, and fit in, and have people understand us -- and sometimes we just try too hard. These things can be the same across all sorts of groupings -- political, sporting, work, ethnic, hobbies, you name it. Sometimes it's just really awkward to bridge the gap.
But, to be honest, these factors don't get to the very heart of my clumsiness. I think there is something more profound that often makes things awkward for me in relating to others -- and that is, what I believe. You see, I sincerely believe in many things that others will find quite unusual, maybe even absurd. Let me offer a list to start with:
Some probably think I've been brainwashed into believing a fiction, that I am willing to base my life on a myth or fantasy or fabrication. Some explain it to me as, "You're into religion, but I'm not" (as if religion is just another flavor of ice cream). Some of my friends might even feel a bit sorry for me. I don't know, but I suspect, that some of them with whom I've spent years in academia are fairly certain I'm just another loon.
Let me say this. I hope that none of my friends dismiss the Christian message simply because of my clumsiness. I pray they'll put up with some of my mistakes, my awkwardness, even my selfishness, and hypocrisy ... and look beyond me to Jesus. I can't be sure that happens, but I hope. And I hope this because I'm all too honest with my own imperfections and foibles. If you're looking for a perfect Christian, I'm not your guy.
As I read more and more of Jesus in the Bible, so I get to know the one who came to bring reconciliation, to break down walls and hostility. He is the one who made religious people uncomfortable, and yet welcomed the outcasts and despised. Jesus connects people to God. He breaks through our tribes and divisions. He builds genuine community. I've seen and experienced this in profound ways, that cross all kinds of barriers and boundaries. In fact, this community and depth of relationship has been one of the real joys of my Christian experience. My desire is to enjoy this more and more -- not by keeping things "in house", but by sharing the reality with others.
A few weeks ago, someone asked why I hadn't been "in ministry" for years. I explained that I had. I've never left ministry. I simply left parish ministry -- one expression of the way Jesus is working in the world. Even the primary expression of that work. But certainly not the only expression. And I make no apologies for this. "The world" -- as John Wesley said -- "is my parish." I think he was on to something.
I'll keep making mistakes. I don't want to, or plan to, but I'm being honest with my own humanity and its struggle to live the Jesus life -- I will remain a clumsy Christian.
Please, don't be put off by my Christian clumsiness.
If you're curious about Jesus, though, I'll be happy to introduce you. He's far more interesting than I am.
It may be the exuberant charismatic Christian who just assumes that everybody else is on the same page as them. It might be the type who drops Christian jargon and ideas into every conversation. It could be the awkward, shy, "uncomfortable to be around" Christian. Or even the one who seems embarrassed to be, or at least to be known to be, a Christian.
I suspect that whether you're a Christian, not a Christian, or not sure what you believe, you can at least identify with my experience. That is, we Christians can be quite clumsy. In fact, as I read back over this, I've used the word Christian eight times already -- am I just proving my point?!?
Of course, there are all kinds of reasons why some people gel together and others don't. Like attracts like. We feel comfortable with our "tribe". We get nervous around people we don't understand. We fear the unknown. We want to be accepted, and fit in, and have people understand us -- and sometimes we just try too hard. These things can be the same across all sorts of groupings -- political, sporting, work, ethnic, hobbies, you name it. Sometimes it's just really awkward to bridge the gap.
But, to be honest, these factors don't get to the very heart of my clumsiness. I think there is something more profound that often makes things awkward for me in relating to others -- and that is, what I believe. You see, I sincerely believe in many things that others will find quite unusual, maybe even absurd. Let me offer a list to start with:
I believe in God.Apparently, most Americans still believe something like this. But then my Christian beliefs start to get a little more uncomfortable, more pointed:
I believe he made everything.
I believe that he made everyone – including me and you – to be able to relate with him.
I believe we all push God to the periphery of our life, if not shut him out altogether.These beliefs are foundational, but they're only the prelude to the most important message I want people to know and embrace:
I believe we get what we ask for when we choose to reject life with God, and it's serious -- that the rejection brings its own isolation that we name hell, particularly in this life.
I believe that without God, we are without hope.
God has not left us without hope.I know that when I speak with some of my friends about these beliefs they will glaze over. They won't understand. They'll put me in the weirdo box. "He seems an otherwise normal bloke. How can he possibly believe this stuff?" Santa Claus, flat earth, tooth fairies, Harry Potter, religion, Jesus, resurrection -- they're all rather of the same sort in our cultural mindset.
He sent Jesus into this world so that we can know him.
Jesus was crucified at the hands of those who rejected him (including me) to show us the depths of God's love for us, and to overcome all barriers separating us from God.
God physically raised Jesus to life out of death, opening the door out of death and into life and relationship with God -- the only hope for this world and the next.
Some probably think I've been brainwashed into believing a fiction, that I am willing to base my life on a myth or fantasy or fabrication. Some explain it to me as, "You're into religion, but I'm not" (as if religion is just another flavor of ice cream). Some of my friends might even feel a bit sorry for me. I don't know, but I suspect, that some of them with whom I've spent years in academia are fairly certain I'm just another loon.
Let me say this. I hope that none of my friends dismiss the Christian message simply because of my clumsiness. I pray they'll put up with some of my mistakes, my awkwardness, even my selfishness, and hypocrisy ... and look beyond me to Jesus. I can't be sure that happens, but I hope. And I hope this because I'm all too honest with my own imperfections and foibles. If you're looking for a perfect Christian, I'm not your guy.
As I read more and more of Jesus in the Bible, so I get to know the one who came to bring reconciliation, to break down walls and hostility. He is the one who made religious people uncomfortable, and yet welcomed the outcasts and despised. Jesus connects people to God. He breaks through our tribes and divisions. He builds genuine community. I've seen and experienced this in profound ways, that cross all kinds of barriers and boundaries. In fact, this community and depth of relationship has been one of the real joys of my Christian experience. My desire is to enjoy this more and more -- not by keeping things "in house", but by sharing the reality with others.
A few weeks ago, someone asked why I hadn't been "in ministry" for years. I explained that I had. I've never left ministry. I simply left parish ministry -- one expression of the way Jesus is working in the world. Even the primary expression of that work. But certainly not the only expression. And I make no apologies for this. "The world" -- as John Wesley said -- "is my parish." I think he was on to something.
I'll keep making mistakes. I don't want to, or plan to, but I'm being honest with my own humanity and its struggle to live the Jesus life -- I will remain a clumsy Christian.
Please, don't be put off by my Christian clumsiness.
If you're curious about Jesus, though, I'll be happy to introduce you. He's far more interesting than I am.