By the way, I need to give
credit every now and then to the best Youth Minister I’ve ever known. Patty
Methvin always signed her church newsletter column, “Together in the Walk.” In my opinion, it’s the best Christian sign-off around, so I've adopted it in most of my writing. Thanks, Patty!
Also, every now and then I need to reaffirm the philosophical position from which I think and write
and work. Some will respond immediately, “You're Liberal!” Yes, I’m
unapologetically liberal; but liberal is not where I start. It’s the end
product of my thought process.
On the other hand, one of
the classic definitions of “liberal” is “open.” I guess that’s a starting
place.
If you've read almost
anything I've written you’ll know I’m a “both/and” kind of guy rather than “either/or”. I believe no human is ever—EVER—totally right, or totally wrong, about anything. There's something good,
and something bad, in everybody. And in almost any aspect of life, between me
and any other human, there are infinitely more similarities than differences. And understanding trumps agreement.
If we remain open and
honest in our encounters, I truly believe we can find enough common ground
between even the most divergent positions to begin building an
effective outcome, not matter what the issue may be. In my estimation, that’s
what it means to be liberal (as opposed to popular understandings based on where one stands on specific issues,
like abortion, LGBT rights, firearms, etc.)
I also strive, though not
always effectively, for humility (yeah, I know: looks aren't everything.) Most
of the time the humility thing is pretty easy, because I can almost always find
somebody who’s better than I at whatever I’m doing. Still, pride is a demon I
must resist daily. Where I have the most difficulty with humility is in the
area of mental, intellectual process.
Oh, it’s not that I think
I’m a superior intellect. Indeed, it’s easy to find many people whose thinking
is far superior to mine and more clearly articulated. But I battle with the
same human weakness I observe in most others: when I reach a conclusion I
generally feel “I’m right.” And if I’m right, then anyone who disagrees with me
must be wrong. Of course, Logic 101 says
logic is valid only if its premises are valid. “I’m right” is seldom a valid
premise, because we humans are incomplete, and are incapable of perceiving
truth absolutely [even though I believe absolute truth exists].
So, is the “I’m right”
syndrome a symptom of pride, or of insecurity?
So I intentionally pull
most of my conclusions through the sieve of “what if I’m wrong?” I make an
honest effort to research a variety of resources on any topic I’m considering,
and more often than my pride wants to admit, I end up altering or even
reversing my opinions. I know far too many people who read and study only those
resources they are confident will reinforce and strengthen what they already
believe, which
must assume they already have arrived at the correct belief.
For me, faith is a
lot more about being than about believing. The epistle of James says, “even the
demons believe, and tremble” (2:19). Belief alone puts me at the same level as the demons.
Faith is the act of
living as if I truly believe what I say I believe. It is a never-ending
process of growing. Growing, by definition, is changing; therefore, the crucial
question is, “Toward what am I growing?” My aim is the goal Paul laid out in
Ephesians 4:13, namely, to grow “…until all
of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to
maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (NRSV)
My faith goal is not to
solidify what I believe about Christ,
although, I will always continue to study and learn everything I can learn
about Christ. But that has to do with “belief,” not “faith.” My faith goal is
to become more like Christ. It’s easy to say.
I am inspired in my journey
by my nephew’s one-year project to experience and understand what it means to
follow Jesus[1]. I
don’t yet fully comprehend his process or his goals; but, I’m totally in
agreement with his desire to follow Jesus.
I trust whatever I
accomplish in my faith journey will never be a foundation for pride, or for
declaring the correctness of my beliefs. My faith is in a person,
and whether my doctrine is correct will not change that person or influence the
relationship into which he calls me. I will be wrong often. But that is the
risk of faith. It also is the test of faith. “What if I’m wrong?” It’s tempting
to cling to the need to insure my relationship with God by being “right,”
rather than by trusting the “right” person.
Pride is still a daily
demon for me. Every sermon I write is subjected to two questions: (1) “So what?”
and, (2) “Why do these people need to hear this sermon this Sunday?” Not every
sermon passes the test; but 11:00 o’clock Sunday morning rolls around about the
same time every week, ready or not!
It’s difficult to be proud
when a sermon I've worked on for six weeks falls off the end of my tongue, “plops”
on the floor immediately in front of the chancel and slithers away to hide under
the front pew.
Wow! My mind was on a
wandering path today; but that’s how I see it through the flawed glass that is
my world view.
Together in the
Walk,
Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment